Swanage Railway - Diesel Gala - 9-11 May 2025

No reason why not. It would be fantastic to see the VEP and a TC in the same dark blue at Waterloo one day.

 

The answer is No, It would require Loco haulage for a combination.
Back in the BR days there were some combined VEP/CIG and TC formations attached/detached at Basingstoke, The TC would be hauled/ propelled by a type KB Converted class 33 (33101-119) and combine with a 8 VEP EMU for the journey to from Waterloo.
In this day and age a Locomotive is required for "insurance" reasons.
Also you asked why the train was being routed via Kensington Willsden and Reading? That is because that is the route chosen by the NR Train planners and to me looks like the most logical, as there is no running around involved.

 

I'm sure Kensington, Kew and Virginia Water doesn't involve running around, but I trust that NR choose the most logical route.

 

According to wnxxforum.co.uk, 47715 left behind at Chinnor due to a fuel leak.

 

50008 travelled down to Strawberry Hill Depot light engine. 50008 and 4VEP duly arrived safely complete with it's SETG support crew and supplied for the stand at Swanage Station.
WCRC 37706 hauling 20066 and 45108 : https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...6/detailed arrived safely and is currently stabled in main platform run-round loop ready for shunt tomorrow.
GBRf 69007 and 73128 on 7th : https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...7/detailed
Colas 56090 move on Thursday 8th: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...8/detailed

STOP PRESS : 50008 - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service...7/detailed to collect a now [hopefully] fully fit 47715. No VSTP for the trip back to Swanage which has yet to be confirmed.

 

First arrivals for the gala (even though the 50 is going back and forth to the C & PRR today). I assume the timings are due to crew hours. Return trip link.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:78274/2025-05-07/detailed
Seen at Creech Bottom heading away from the Grange Road Bridge TSR and HX.

 

Anyone coming down camping or self catering and thinking of popping into the Swanage Coop to stock up, be aware the cyber attack is having impact on supplies.

 

A pair of today's arrivals at Holme Lane and Arne Road.

 

Little time today to do much, but I did pop out about 14:30 for 90 minutes (only to find my wife who was asleep when I went up to my Dad's at 14:00) still asleep when I got back about 16:10
Railway must be running out of WW2 anniversary's to use for gala preview days (D Day for the Bullied Gala, and VE 80 today.) Although of course today was really NSE Day.
257 looked good with its flags and NSE discs seen approaching Townsend Bridge. I guess the NSE livery would have worked quite well on a Spamcan
Meanwhile just before it 73128 was in push mode on the 4VEP passing the site of a recent lineside fire. The sun lit the loco all the way but not the unit annoyingly.

 

Can understand why concrete was popular